Computed head-to-head · 6 dimensions
ARCC vs BLK
Ares Capital Corp. versus BlackRock, Inc. — yield, safety, growth trend, cost, scale, and tax treatment.
BLK wins 3–1 on our six-dimension comparison, but ARCC can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
ARCC or BLK — which is better?
BLK wins this comparison 3–1 across 6 dimensions. BLK yields 2.10% — lower than ARCC's 10.05% — and carries a 8.3/10 dividend safety score (Strong) vs 3.8/10 for ARCC (Weak). BLK wins 3–1 on our six-dimension comparison, but ARCC can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
On yield alone, ARCC generates 10.05% vs 2.10% — a 7.95% difference that translates to $7,950 more per year on a $100,000 investment. On dividend safety, BLK scores 8.3/10 (Strong) vs 3.8/10 (Weak) for ARCC — investors prioritizing income reliability should weight that gap alongside the yield difference.
Scorecard at a glance
| Dimension | ARCC | BLK | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yield | 10.05% | 2.10% | ARCC wins |
| Dividend safety | 3.8/10 | 8.3/10 | BLK wins |
| Growth trend | +0.93% vs 5y | -0.25% vs 5y | BLK wins |
| Volatility (beta) | — | — | Tie |
| Scale | $14.0B | $177.3B | BLK wins |
| Tax efficiency | Qualified-eligible | Qualified-eligible | Tie |
| Overall | 1 wins | 3 wins | BLK wins |
Dimension by dimension
ARCC wins on yield (10.05% vs 2.10%)
On a $10,000 investment that's about $795 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
ARCC's higher yield (10.05%) looks attractive but investors should weigh whether the extra income compensates for any additional risk versus BLK's 2.10% — especially if the higher yield is driven by covered calls or a falling share price.
BLK wins on safety (8.3/10 vs 3.8/10)
Our score combines yield zone, payout ratio, trend vs 5-year average, instrument type, and size. BLK scores better on the weighted average of those factors.
BLK (8.3/10) scores 4.5 points higher than ARCC (3.8/10). A higher safety score means lower historical indicators of dividend cut risk — payout ratio, yield zone, and trend all factor in.
BLK shows healthier dividend-vs-price trend
BLK's yield is 0.25% below its 5y average, versus 0.93% for ARCC. Lower (or below-average) yield trend often means price appreciation outpaced distributions — a healthier signal.
Volatility comparison unavailable
Beta data missing for one or both tickers.
BLK is 12.6× larger by market cap
Larger companies tend to have tighter spreads, deeper liquidity, and lower closure risk.
Both pay qualified-dividend-eligible distributions
Neither is structurally flagged for ordinary-income tax treatment. Most distributions should qualify for the lower long-term capital gains rate if holding-period requirements are met.
Full breakdown per ticker: are ARCC dividends qualified and are BLK dividends qualified — each with the after-tax income at every federal bracket.
How we compare these
Every comparison on this page is computed from current public data, not written by hand. Yield comes from the most recent dividend distribution annualized over current price. Safety scores combine yield zone, payout ratio, trend vs 5-year average, instrument type, and size — see our methodology for the exact formula. Tax-efficiency flags identify covered-call ETFs, REITs, and mREITs which distribute primarily as ordinary income.
This is educational, not investment advice. Scores reflect a snapshot of public data on the "as of" dates shown on each ticker's safety page. Verify on the issuer's investor relations page or your brokerage before making decisions.
Frequently asked
ARCC or BLK — which is better?
BLK is better on our scoring, winning 3–1 across six dimensions: yield, dividend safety, growth, cost, scale, and tax treatment. BLK wins 3–1 on our six-dimension comparison, but ARCC can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
Which is better for income, ARCC or BLK?
BLK wins 3–1 on our six-dimension comparison, but ARCC can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
ARCC vs BLK: which has a higher dividend yield?
ARCC yields 10.05% and BLK yields 2.10%. On a $10,000 investment that's about $795 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
Is ARCC or BLK a safer dividend in 2026?
ARCC scores 3.8/10 (Weak) on the Infnits dividend safety scale. BLK scores 8.3/10 (Strong). BLK is the safer pick on our scoring model.
Which has better dividend growth, ARCC or BLK?
BLK's yield is 0.25% below its 5y average, versus 0.93% for ARCC. Lower (or below-average) yield trend often means price appreciation outpaced distributions — a healthier signal.
ARCC vs BLK: which is more tax-efficient?
Neither is structurally flagged for ordinary-income tax treatment. Most distributions should qualify for the lower long-term capital gains rate if holding-period requirements are met.
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Compare both against your actual holdings
Put ARCC and BLK into the free analyzer with the rest of your portfolio. You'll see what each one contributes to your annual income, your weighted safety score, and whether adding BLK diversifies you or just duplicates what you hold. No account, no download.